Betting the biggest spreads in college football history

Week 13 of the college football schedule has more chalk than a daycare sidewalk, with plenty of power programs tuning up for their Week 14 rivalry games and season finales against softer competition this Saturday.

A quick glance over the NCAAF board leaves bettors wrapping their minds around spreads in the 50-point range –Alabama A&M at Georgia Tech (-51.5), Chattanooga at Alabama (-49), Idaho at Florida State (-57) – and a whole heap-load of games with spreads of 30 or more points.

Florida State backers are no strangers to these massive mountains of points. The Seminoles opened as 70.5-point favorites versus Savannah State last September and were bet down to a closing line of -67. The game was actually called after three quarters due to lightning with FSU leading 55-0, deeming it “no action” by most books who actually offered the beefy spread.

As of Thursday afternoon, the 57 points Florida State is giving Idaho is tied as the fifth-biggest college football spread since 1987 (as far back as our ATS database tracks). However, it’s not even the biggest spread NCAAF bettors have had to deal with this season.

Books tabbed Oregon as a 59-point home favorite versus Nicholls State in Week 1, with the Ducks winning and covering in a 66-3 victory at Autzen Stadium on August 31. And, Miami was a 60-point favorite hosting Savannah State in Week 4 – the second-highest NCAAF spread since 1987 – and won SU and ATS 77-7.

Of the 20 biggest NCAAF favorites over the last 26 years – ranging from 67 to 52 points – eight have managed to cover, with Savannah State-FSU ruled as “no action”. This season alone, bettors have dealt with spreads of 60, 59, 54.5, and 52.5 points, with the favorite going 2-2 ATS in those games.

Here’s a look at the 10 most-lofty NCAAF spreads since 1987 and their outcomes:

What you see is what you get each year from Pittsburgh, which builds through the draft, doesn’t sign a lot of free agents and basically comes at you. How much Ben Roethlisberger has left is a question asked every September given the number of hits he takes. The biggest change will be at defensive coordinator, where legend Dick Lebeau is gone – which may mean the LBs will be freer to attack the pocket.

The Vikes have Adrian Peterson back and things seem to have calmed down a bit in Minnesota. But then again, Mike Wallace has been on board for only a few months. Vikes are looking for a huge Year 2 improvement from Teddy Bridgewater and if they get it they can make things sticky in the North.

In 2014/15 the Steelers were 1-3 SU/ATS in the preseason and in 2013/14 they were 0-4 SU/ATS. After missing the playoffs in 2013/14, Pittsburgh returned last year only to lose 30-17 to the Ravens in the Wildcard round. Mike Tomlin has clearly not been very worried about winning in the preseason the last few years.

Last year the Vikes went 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS in the preseason, after going 1-3 SU/ATS in 2013/14 and 1-3 SU/ATS in 2012/13. For a team which is desperately trying to get back to the playoffs, the preseason suddenly becomes a lot more important.

There are many players on Minnesota which have something to prove, while Pittsburgh will surely be happy to just go through the motions and leave Canton without any significant injuries.

Minnesota would seem to be the more motivated team in this one, consider laying the short points.

Activities offered by advertising links to other sites may be deemed an illegal activity in certain jurisdictions. Viewers are specifically warned that they should inquire into the legality of participating in any games and/or activities offered by such other sites. The owner of this website assumes no responsibility for the actions by and makes no representation or endorsement of any of these games and/or activities offered by the advertiser. As a condition of viewing this website viewers agree to hold the owner of this website harmless from any claims arising from the viewer’s participation in any of the games and/or activities offered by the advertiser.